50 Great Books That Will Change Your Life

Colefax & Fowler: The Best in English Interior Decoration, by Chester Jones

“My mother gave me this book when I was 26, explaining that it could teach me all I needed to know about ‘good interiors.’ From this book, I have learned about proportion, color, pattern, and how to lay out a room. It also taught me that the best rooms aren’t necessarily the fanciest or most expensive.”

Recommended byAnnie Selke, a textile designer and the author of Fresh American Spaces ($45,amazon.com).